Rigidified multi-opening aperture cards



April 4, 1967 R. BEISPEL 3,312,009

RIGIDIFIED MULTI-OPENING APERTURE CARDS Filed April 22, 1964 INVENTOR.

Roberi figs oe l Y g ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice Patented Apr.4, 11967 3,312,009 RIGIDIFHED MULTI-OPENING APERTURE CARDS RobertBeispei, Des Plaines, IiL, assignor to Microseal Corporation, Chicago,lillL, a corporation of lliiinois Fiied Apr. 22, 1964, her. No. 361,824-

7 Claims. (Cl. 40--159) This invention is generally related to filmrecord cards and a film record card tool and is more particularlydirected to an improved film record card having a plurality of apertureswherein microfilm strips and the like may be mounted and an improvedtool therefor.

With the ever increasing use of microfilm records, it has been desirableto provide a film record card that may contain all the statisticalinformation or a major portion thereof on microfilm and one which hassufficient microfilm mounting means to allow periodic additions ofmicrofilm to the card.

Film record cards are generally used in very large quantities runningoften into the many thousands. The cards generally have indicia of onesort or another formed in or over all or a portion of one or both sidesof the card. The inclicia may comprise a series of punched holes or aseries of magnetic ink impressions and the like as will be familiar tothose skilled in the art. The cards are generally vertically stacked andcompressed against one another. Each card is then individually slidvertically with respect to the stack and sorted in this manner. Suchsorting machines are almost universally adapted to pass the record cardstherethrough in a sideways manner as opposed to an endwise manner.Sensing fingers are generally employed in the, sorting machines andthere is relative movement between these fingers and the cards from oneside of each card to the other as it passes through the machine.

The present action of the sorting machine and the sensing fingerspresent problems in the construction and de sign of film record cards.Film record cards heretofore revised have caused considerable jamming inrecord cards sorting machines with the result that the sorting machineshave had to be operated at very slow speeds or frequently stopped tounjam them. The jamming of the sorting machines is brought about byvertical collapse of the film record card and also by adjacent filmrecord cards having their empty microfilm pocket windows pressed intothe empty pocket windows of the card being sorted which preventsvertical sliding of the card. This hindrance to vertical sliding ofadjacent cards is especially acute in multi-aperture cards where some ofthe apertures or pockets are completely empty.

The present invention has obviated these problems of film record cardsin jamming the sorting machine by providing each film record cardaperture or pocket with at least one non-jamming or reinforcing rib toprevent adjacent cards with empty pockets from hindering the card frombeing vertically sorted.

Further, the present invention provides an unique nonjamming rib removertool in order to remove the nonjamming ribs when it is desired to insertadditional microfilm in the film record card aperture or pocket.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved multi-aperture film record card.

It is another object of the present invention to provide It is stillfurther another object of the present invention to provide amulti-aperture film record card wherein each aperture contains at leastone integral non-jamming reinforcing rib.

It is further another object of the present invention to provide animproved tool for removing a non-jamming rib from the aperture of a filmrecord card.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art after a carefulconsideration of the following disclosure and drawing wherein likereference numerals refer to like and corresponding parts.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view illustrating a multiaperture film recordcard constructed in accordance with a non-jamming reinforcing rib fromthe film record card an improved multi-aperture film record card havingmeans 6 to prevent jamming of said cards in sorting machines.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide amulti-aperture film record card wherein each aperture has at least onenon-jamming means therein to both reinforce the card and prevent jammingthereof in sorting machines.

apertures.

0 major portion of the card length. The thickness of each aperture ispredetermined to effectively mount a piece of microfilm such as 16 and17 therein. Each aperture has a top wall 13 and a bottom wall 19 and theapertures 13, 14 and 15 are parallel and spaced a predetermined distanceapart. Each aperture 13, 14 and 15 is provided with respectivenon-jamming reinforcing ribs 20, 21 and 22 respectively. The reinforcingribs 29, 21 and 22 are preferably integral with the card 12 and extendperpendicular to the top and bottom walls 18 and 1? of the apertures.The rib 21 is preferably offset from the ribs 20 and 22 as isillustrated in FIGURE 1, so as to give additional vertical strength ofthe fenestrated card 1 1. It is of course understood that the ribs 20,21 and 22 have a thickness substantially less than the width of theircorresponding apertures and also that said ribs may be angularlydisplaced and still perform their non-jamming function. However,angularly displaced ribs would not appreciably reinforce the aperturedcard 12. Further, the ribs must be thin enough to allow their removalwithout leaving detrimental ragged edges on the top and bottom walls ofthe apertures and also without ripping the card 12.

It is of course understood that the reinforcing and non-jamming functionof the ribs 29, 21 and 22 will be performed if all the ribs arevertically aligned.

Referring to FIGURES l and 3, transparent enveloping sheets 13 and 14,rectangular in configuration, are mounted on the front and rear surfacesrespectively of the card 12 so that they overlie the apertures 13, 14and 15. The enveloping members 13 and 14 are mounted over the aperturesso that their edges overlie portions of the card defining the apertures(that is, the edge of each sheet does not terminate at the edge of theapertures) but only three edges 25, 26 and 27 of each of the envelopingmembers and also, the portions 29 and 3t) between the apertures aresecured to the respective surfaces of the card by suitable adhesive 23.In each case, the overlying edge 31 has an unsecured portion 32 adjacentone end of the apertures and being at least equal to the width of theSince the unsecured portions 32 are affixed to the card 12 only at theirends a slight gap 33 may be formed between the enveloping members andthe v3 record card. This gap would be very small and in fact, may notexist at all. This of course would be dependent upon the manner in whichthe enveloping members were mounted on the card 12 and on whether or notthe card 12 is disposed in a completely flat plane.

Generally speaking, it would be understood that a film strip 16 may beinserted through the gap 33 into the film aperture or pocket 19 formedintermediate the enveloping members 23 and 24 and that once disposedwithin the pocket, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, it would 1 be protectedsubstantially from all atmospheric impurities as well as from stainscaused by handling and the like. Since the enveloping members 23 and 24are transparent, light may be transmitted through the enveloping membersas well as the film 16 if it is desired to project the film image on ascreen and thus removal of the film for this purpose is notnecessitated. Still further, deleterious particle will be prevented fromentering the pockets or apertures 13, 14 and 15 since the edge portionsof the enveloping members which are not secured to the card 90 12substantially overlie the card and are normally maintained injuxtaposition with the respective surfaces of the card due to the factthat they are maintained relatively taut by the other secured edgesthereof.

The enveloping sheets 23 and 24 illustrated are sheets of polyethyleneterephthalate. However, any of the well known film record cardenveloping sheet material may be used. Film record cards of themulti-aperture type are utilized to hold microfilm such as microfilm 16and 17. These record cards are utilized for progressively o0 addinginformation thereto as the information is gathered. Therefore, in asorting machine where there are thousands of cards vertically stackedagainst each other some of the cards have only a small portion of thepockets containing a microfilm and adjacent cards have some of theirpockets completely empty. Vlhere adjacent cards have empty film pocketsthere is presented a problem of jamming the sorting machine. The sortingmachine has all the film record cards vertically stacked and a greatdeal of pressure is exerted on the cards. The machine is operated tomove the cards perpendicular to their vertical axis and the cards aresorted individually and vertically relative to each other. Since theenveloping sheets 23 and 24 have a combined thickness of 21 mil or lessand the tabulator card has a thickness of about 7.4 mils, thecompression of the adjacent cards would cause the enveloping sheets 23and 24 to be compressed when the card is being vertically moved relativeto the stack of cards and the film pocket is empty. A film record cardnot having the reinforcing ribs 20, 21 and 22 and having cards withadjacent empty pockets, would cause the top wall 18 of the empty pocketof the card being sorted to abut against the bottom wall 19 of the emptypocket in the adjacent card in the sorting stack. This abutment causesthe ma chine to jam. However, by utilizing the cards of the presentinvention, having the non-jamming reinforcing ribs 20, 21 and 22, thecards are prevented from forming the abutting jamming relationshipbetween film record cards wherein adjacent film record cards both havingempty film pockets.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3 there is illustrated and a non-jamming ribremover tool 41 having an elongated said half arrow h d h fiatrectangular handle 42 and a half arrow head 43. The gaging groove 3: 3:i gg i figgg i :2 2; head 43 has a rounded end 44 with sides 45diverging and remove Said rib towards the handle 42 and a top surface 46inclining from 3 A t the rounded end 44 towards the handle 42 to arounded i film Card non Jammmg nb removmg tool cominner end 47 and afront inner wall 48 extending verticalan i med rectan ula han d1 ly andintegrally with the handle 42. The front wall has a half g h d r d dformed therein a slot 49 extending the width of the head. ea Orme f oneen of Sa1d.hand18" The slot has a thickness of approximately equal tothe 8 arrow head havmg a Wan extendmg thickness of the rib 21 andextends inwardly into the head Wardly from the handle from the frontwall 48 at an acute angle to the handle.

Therefore, when it is desired to add additional microfilm besides thefilm ll7 to the pocket 14 the microfilm? 17 is removed and the removingtool 41 placed in operation. The tool head is inserted between the gap33 formed by the sheet 24 on the undersurface of the card 12. The headfront wall 48 is slid beyond the rib 21. Then the tool is removed in thepocket so that the wall 43 moves towards the rib 21. The rib is engagedby the slot 49. The angle or configuration of the slot is such that itturns the rib in a clockwise direction, as is illustrated in FIGURE 3.Therefore, the horizontal movement of the tool subjects the rib 21 toboth turning and horizontal forces which allow it to be separated fromthe top and bottom walls of the pocket 14 and leave clean edges behind.It is important to the removal feature of the present invention thatthere be no adhesive between the non-jamming ribs 29, 21 and 22 and theoverlying sheets 23 and 24 because such adhesive would hinder the properremoval of the non-jamming ribs.

The removing tool has a width less than the width of the film pocketsand has a thickness which is calibrated such that it will not separatethe glued portions of the sheets 23 and 24 from the card 12. The removaltool is shown as being made from metal but it is of course understoodthat the tool may be made from any desired material such as any of thewell known plastic used to make solid objects.

Although the present invention has been described as utilizing integralnon-jamming ribs it is of course understood that the ribs need not beintegral with the card 12 but may be separate ribs releasably secured tothe cards such as by non-permanent adhesives or other suitable fasteningmeans.

Therefore, it is seen where I have provided the film record cardindustry with a rigidified non-jamming multiopening apertured card whichwill not jam the film record card sorting machines when said cards arevertically sorted.

it will be understood that a film record card constructed in accordancewith the principles of my invention will have a wide variety of uses butit should be kept in mind that the illustrated embodiments of myinvention have been used for illustrative purposes only and that variousmodifications and variations in the invention may be effected withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a film record card having a plurality of longitudinally extendingand spaced parallel apertures formed therein with a transparent sheetoverlying both sides of said apertures and having three edges and thelands between the apertures adhesively secured to the sheets,

at least one removable non-jamming rib being integral with andinterconnecting the top and bottom walls of each pocket to reinforcesaid card and substantially prevent the card from jamming in a verticalsorting machine, and said non-jamming ribs having a relatively thinwidth such that they may be cleanly removed from the pockets. 2. A filmcard non-jamming rib removing tool comprising:

an elongated handle, a half arrow head formed at one end of said handle,

said upwardly extending wall having a rib engaging groove formed thereinand extending the width of said half arrow head, and

said groove having an axial center line forming an acute angle with saidhandle whereby said tool is adapted to exert a turning and horizontalforce on a non-jamming rib when said rib is engaged by said head groove.

A film card non-jamming rib removing tool comprising:

an elongated rectangular handle,

an enlarged head portion formed at one end of said handle,

said enlarged head portion having a wall extending upwardly from thehandle,

said upwardly extending wall having a rib engaging groove formed thereinand extending the width of said head portion, and

said groove having an axial center line forming an acute angle with saidhandle whereby said tool is adapted to exert a turning and horizontalforce on a non-jamming rib when said rib is engaged by said head groove.

5. A film record card comprising:

a comparatively rigid supporting frame having a film opening formedtherein,

transparent comparatively non-rigid sheet material overlying both sidesof said supporting frame and forming a film pocket thereby,

said transparent comparatively non-rigid sheet being adhesively securedto said supporting frame adjacent said Opening,

a transverse rib extending across the film opening and being joined tothe supporting frame at opposite edges of the opening and beingnon-adhesively associated with said transparent comparatively non-rigidsheet,

whereby said transverse rib may be easily removed from said film pocket.

6. A film record card comprisingi a comparatively rigid supporting framehaving a filr'ri opening formed therein,

transparent comparatively non-rigid sheet material overlying both sidesof said supporting frame and forming a film pocket thereby, and

temporary rigidifying means removably disposed in said film pocket andgiving vertical rigidity to said supporting frame thereby.

7. A film card non-jamrning rib removing card tool comprising:

an elongated handle,

a half arrow head formed at one end of said handle,

said half arrow head having a wall extending upwardly from the handle,

said upwardly extending wall having a rib engaging groove formedtherein, and

said groove forming an acute angle with said handle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,500,025 7/1924Mayer 40-158 2,775,050 12/1956 Ellsworth 40159 2,799,107 7/1957 McArthur40-159 2,880,799 4/1959 Whitman 22593 3,007,620 11/1961 Laframboise225-93 3,072,024 1/1963 Wengel 40-158 X 3,238,655 3/1966 Engelstein40-459 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. W. J. CONTRERAS, AssistantExaminer.

1. IN A FILM RECORD CARD HAVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDINGAND SPACED PARALLEL APERTURES FORMED THEREIN WITH A TRANSPARENT SHEETOVERLYING BOTH SIDES OF SAID APERTURES AND HAVING THREE EDGES AND THELANDS BETWEEN THE APERTURES ADHESIVELY SECURED TO THE SHEETS, AT LEASTONE REMOVABLE NON-JAMMING RIB BEING INTEGRAL WITH AND INTERCONNECTINGTHE TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS OF EACH POCKET TO REINFORCE SAID CARD ANDSUBSTANTIALLY PREVENT THE CARD FROM JAMMING IN A VERTICAL SORTINGMACHINE, AND SAID NON-JAMMING RIBS HAVING A RELATIVELY THIN WIDTH SUCHTHAT THEY MAY BE CLEANLY REMOVED FROM THE POCKETS.